Panel Examines Problems Faced By Black Males

Major changes in school policies are needed in order to address the
problems faced by disadvantaged black males in Ohio, a panel
established by Gov. Richard F. Celeste said last week.

The educational recommendations of the Governor's Commission on
Socially Disadvantaged Black Males were contained in a report that also
covered such topics as health, employment, and criminal justice.

The commission was critical, for example, of the state's new
multitiered diploma system, under which some students will receive
certificates of attendance rather than a diploma.

It warned that black males who leave school with only an attendance
certificate "will be seen as less attractive in the labor market and
will have little or no chance of obtaining entrance to a college or
university."

Suspension Policies Hit

Noting research showing Ohio to have the nation's highest rate of
suspensions and expulsions of black male students--and that such
disciplinary actions are major contributors to their dropout rate--the
commission also recommended that districts eliminate out-of-school
suspensions.

Instead, districts should use in-school suspensions and Saturday
school, the report suggests.

The commission also called for full funding of preschool and Head
Start programs and elimination of the practice of grouping students by
ability.

In addition, the report proposes stepped-up efforts to ensure that
all black males master basic skills by the 4th grade. It also suggests
that all remedial programs for disadvantaged students be moved to the
end of the school day and to the summer.

The panel also urged that more attention be paid to improving the
attitudes of black males and of the educational system toward each
other.

To that end, commission members proposed using a multicultural
curriculum, extensive efforts to recruit black male educators and teach
parents how to have greater access to the educational system, and
establishment of a requirement that all school personnel participate in
human-relations training.--p.s.

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